Girlfriendly CCW?

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BigMustard

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Well my girlfriend has decided she would like to get her CHL. I'm trying to help her choose a gun to carry and it is becoming increasing difficult. Here's why...

She has shot a range of calibers from .17-.50AE and her favorite is the .50AE. With that being said she does not want to carry something that lacks power. The problem is she's 5'1'' and I keep trying to explain to her that carrying around a large firearm all day will be less than comfortable.

Anyone have any ideas on some good middle ground here? I've suggested the LCP 380 (she doesn't like the caliber apparently) and she doesn't like revolvers. She's a big fan of .40, not so much 9mm.

I would also like some help on holsters, are there any particular brands/types that are more comfortable than others?

Any help would be very appreciated. Ya'll make sure and have a merry Christmas.
 
Try the Glock 23, 27, Springfield XD40 subcompact, and S&W M&P40 compact. They're all fairly small. If thickness is more of a concern, try the Kahr P40 and K40, or for truly tiny, try the PM40 and MK40.

One of those should do the trick, just pick the one that she likes the most when she handles it.
 
Let her pick what she wants. It really is that simple. It seems she has some experience and tastes, it is not your problem to solve her decision. If she likes something and can shoot it well, so be it.

As for holsters, a very popular type around these parts is the Galco purse holsters. They are handbags built with some fashion sense with separate compartments for firearms. They run sometimes above 300 bucks, but that is what fashion and function costs.

Many, many people are going to chime in with a catalog listing of firearms that they actually like, which is worthless. As I said above, let her pick her own handgun out. I certainly would not want someone picking a handgun out for me that is to be used for defense (a gift is another story entirely).
 
Bring her to a gun shop, and let her check out a range of guns (revos and semiauto) in everything from 9x19 to .45. She'll decide on the right one for her.

As for holsters, that's gonna be trial and error. Expect to build a collection of "not quite right" carry rigs until she finds the perfect (for right now) solution.
 
You have to let her pick up a bunch of handguns. 20 years ago all my wife liked was a Sig P-230; nowadays she carries a duty HK USP compact in .40 and Kimber Ultra the rest of the time.
 
Please Remember that CCW encompasses many legal liabilities. Make sure SHE likes it and can shoot it well as every bullet has an attorney tied to it and the person firing it will have to be accountable for it.

There are many fine 40's if she can handle the snappy recoil. XD(M), Glocks, Sigs, Baretta, Kahrs, FN'S, among them. There are some great ladies handbags with the concealed pocket area for a firearm. Belly-bands are also an option along with ITW holsters if you are standing rather than seated most of the time.

The carrying all day of a large firearm WILL be a weight issue in the end, just ask any LEO what weight and a long time does for your backs health.

The semi-auto has issues of STOPPAGES and FAILURE TO FEED and DOUBLE FEED at times and she must be able to deal with the remedies immediately without thought or she should reconsider a revolver, a 3 or 4 inch barreled one.

Practice with her with an auto and dummy round loaded somewhere unknown to her in the magazine and she how she handles the event. A life and death event is no time to wonder what to do. Revolvers go BANG and if they don't PULL THE TRIGGER AGAIN. Please do not have her look at small 2" revolvers, Airweights, etc, these are EXPERT weapons and must be shot a lot to become proficient with them.

Good Luck with your choices.
 
Ive recently grown to love the Kahr line of guns.
I know you said she likes .40 over the 9mm, But that would need retested imo when dealing with small ccw guns. I found the XD SC .40 to have to much flip recoil and even after 500 rounds i was still slow getting back on target.

Kahr has the PM/MK line in 9mm/.40/.45 and have some of the sweetest DAO trigger i ever shot. I actually out shot my Officers 1911 with a great trigger job with my bone stock MK9 and i couldn't hardly believe it.

I now have my eye on the PM45 as im told its an amazing shooter despite its small size and large caliber.
 
As others have already said, weight is a BIG issue with carry weapons. From how you picture her, she seems to have a bit of a "starry eyed" grasp of this. While she may LOVE the "big guns" at the range, she would quickly grow to HATE them when packing it. A weapon left at home because it was too heavy on your side is a useless piece of metal. Drill that into her head.

She is going to need something that is light, compact, and efficient. Do not let her be swayed by the Bull Crap out there saying that the .380, 9mm's are too small to be effective. They can and HAVE stopped a BG in his/her tracks with great efficiency.
 
I'm a big guy, but if I run into Wyatt Earp, I already know I'm dead, so I've pretty much kissed off a fast draw. I also hate shortened CCW/HD weapons.

Until I find something which works better, I just carry a full frame auto in a belt or fanny pack. No print, no blisters, and generally less hassle for me.
 
Lady Smith,hammerless titanium. Can be fired from the purse or from eny confined space. Besides,she will be firing from close range enyway. Overkill=death!
 
Let her pick, but maybe show her a midsize 1911 or the EMP in 40 sw. Great carry guns with the power level she seems to prefer. The midsize glocks also carry well. Heck maybe she'll even like a full size government or full sized glock. If that is what she likes to carry, I say support it.
 
As many of the previous posters have stated, let her try out as
many calibers and guns as possilble and let her choose. I would
start her out gently however with smaller calibers like .22, .32 Long,
.32 ACP, .38 Special and let her work her way up if at all possible.
I took my wife to the gunstore and let her pick out a gun. She choose
the Ruger LCP. It was a bit snappy for her but I have a nice pocket
pistol now. She likes my S&W Model 30-1 in .32 Long and she is happy
carrying that for now on her walks around the neighborhood. After a
little practice with my Taurus 66 4" .357 Magnum, she was shooting
almost as well as I was. My wife does not have her CCW permit yet,
but I plan on getting her one of the Lady Smiths to carry once she
accomplishes that.
 
I think letting her pick her own is a good idea. She will probably change her mind later going bigger or smaller and getting different holsters, just like us guys do. Reality of carrying is always different than the theory.
 
Micro Eagle .380.
This weapon is quite good. Some women co workers own this handgun.
Now having mentioned the .380-
In my CCW class, heavier caliber ammo (.357, .40, .45) was discussed relating to penetrating power through house structures and how a powerfull bullet can do collateral injury to others.
Target engagement in my CCW class was about 8-10 feet away. Engagement during self defense is not going to be 25 meters and beyond. Hollow points expand and "brakes" the bullet's velocity upon impact.
Practice and more practice at the range will improve accuracy, and I read somewhere here that every bullet fired has a potential lawyer attached to it. Round acccountability cannot be stressed more again and again.
So this Micro Eagle .380 has quite a punch for its small size as long as one does not expect to engage a target beyond 10 feet.
Higher calliber bullets have the danger of over penetration through structures. Something to think about. After all, you are protecting self from lethal force which will occur at close range-like, some perp pulling a knife on a woman in a parking garage and ordering her in his car; engagement about 8 feet away-quick draw on the part of the woman (the adavantage of a small handgun) and fire away. Justified in Michigan-threat of rape. Thus easily accessible, easy to fire, lethal, and very easily concealed.
 
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